study abroad Summer Program Make Things Happen. 0909

In the summer of 2009, Professor Taeg Nishimoto, Associate Dean for Re- manufacturer produces high quality, sustainable, prefabricated houses for the search, Outreach and Graduate Studies of the College of Architecture, led a Japanese market, in a completely technologically-controlled environment. group of nine graduate and senior UTSA College of Architecture students on 19-day study abroad program to Japan. The itinerary included a tour of nine The program concluded with a visit to City, the sister city of San Japanese cities: , Nikko, , , Ise, , Nara, , and Antonio. This special visit was largely supported and arranged by City of San Kumamoto. Antonio International Affairs Department and its director Beth Costello. The group was offi cially received by Mayor Seishi Kohyama of Kumamoto City in During the program, students were exposed to both traditional and contempo- city hall, where Nishimoto presented a letter from San Antonio Mayor Julian rary Japanese lifestyle, cities, space, and architecture, learning the uniqueness Castro to Mayor Kohyama. The group also visited Kumamoto University where of the relationship between culture and the built environment in Japan. The Dean Mitsuo Morozumi of the Faculty of Engineering gave a special reception intense urban experience of taking public transportation -- from the super- for them. The students also did a home stay for two nights with volunteering crowded subways to the bullet trains between the cities -- for daily trips was families in Kumamoto, which was arranged by the City of Kumamoto Citizens’ also an entirely new experience for our students. Some of the highlights of vis- Affairs Bureau; Ms. Sayoko Hara, Director. The students experienced the real iting the modern and contemporary architecture included the works of Kenzo Japanese lifestyle and participated in the traditional dancing parade of Hinokuni Tange, Toto Ito, Tadao Ando, and Yoshio Taniguchi in various locations Matsuri, which proved to be very similar in spirit to San Antonio’s own Fiesta throughout Japan. The traditional sites included the oldest shrine in Ise, early celebrations. Buddhism temples of Nara, the most sophisticated temples, shrines, and Zen gardens of Kyoto. The group also visited Toyota Home Factory, where the car more images can be seen at http://www.fl ickr.com/photos/41061933@N03/